Dossonville. Absolute—unlimited! Naturally. What else would be useful?

Valsin. You recall this woman, Dossonville?

Dossonville. She was present when I delivered the passport to the Emigrant Valny-Cherault, in Paris.

Valsin. Did you forge that passport?

Dossonville. No. I told the Emigrant I had. Under orders. [Grinning.] It was genuine.

Valsin. Where did you get it?

Dossonville. From you.

Valsin [suavely]. Sit down, Dossonville. [The latter, who is standing by a chair, obeys with a promptness more than military. Valsin turns smilingly to Madame de Laseyne.] Dossonville's instructions, however, did not include a "permit" to sail on the Jeune Pierrette. All of which, I confess, Citizeness, has very much the appearance of a trap! [He tosses the two papers upon the desk. Utterly dismayed, she makes no effort to secure them. He regards her with quizzical enjoyment.]

Anne. Ah—you—[She fails to speak coherently.]

Valsin. Dossonville has done very well. He procured your passport, brought your "disguises," planned your journey, even gave you directions how to find these lodgings in Boulogne. Indeed, I instructed him to omit nothing for your comfort. [He pauses for a moment.] If I am a spy, Citizeness Laseyne, at least I trust your gracious intelligence may not cling to the epithet "ordinary." My soul! but I appear to myself a most uncommon type of spy—a very intricate, complete, and unusual spy, in fact.